Sara Duterte impeachment pre-trial conference commences
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel and the House of Representatives prosecution panel came face-to-face during the pre-trial for the impeachment of the vice president that convened on Thursday.
Making up the prosecution are Reps. Gerville Reyes-Luistro, Terry Ridon, Ramon Gutierrez, Ysabel Zamora, Lorenz Defensor, Chel Diokno, Leila De Lima, Keith Flores, Lordan Suan, and Joel Chua, along with private prosecutors Lorna Kapunan, Marforth T. Fua, Erwin Matib, James Bryan Ibrahim Alih, and Amando Ligutan.
Diokno said Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, who is also among the prosecutors, was absent as she was attending the wake of his father, who died on June 15.
Meanwhile, the members of the defense present were lawyers Michael Poa, Sheila Sison, Christine Ferrer, Carlo Narvasa, Mark C. Vinluan, Ralph B. Bodota, Roberto Batumbakal, Justin Nicol B. Gular, David Ronell M. Golla VII, Lindon Miguel L. Miguel, Karol Oroceo, Francesca Flores, and Clarlaine Radoc.
Members of the media were allowed inside the Recto Hall where the conference was held, but were asked to leave after the presentation of the members of the prosecution and defense due to the private nature of the meeting.
During the pre-trial conference, the following matters will be discussed:
- stipulation of facts and simplification of issues
- marking of documentary or real evidence and waiver of objections or admissions on evidence
- number and identification of witnesses
- setting of trial dates
- proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence and possible modification of the order of the trial
- such other matters as will promote a fair and expeditious trial of the case
The proceeding is done to ensure a smooth impeachment trial, which is scheduled on July 6.
While no end date has been set, the pre-trial conference may last multiple days depending on the length of the discussion. /gsg /atm
